Hospice care for injection drug using AIDS patients

Injection drug use now accounts for the majority of new AIDS cases. Treatment for these patients is both more complex and more costly than for other AIDS patients as the factors associated with drug use are obstacles to treatment. Using data from a national survey of hospices, the findings from this study indicated that resources, hospice size, years in operation, and the Medicaid waiver were associated with hospice involvement with these patients. Staff training and supports are important factors in adequately dealing with the issues that these patients present.